Chelsea's John Terry lies on the pitch after a tackle from Liverpool's Luis Suarez. Photo: AP

Terry was making his return after a four-game domestic ban for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last season, and he broke the deadlock against Liverpool with a 20th-minute header.

However, 19 minutes later he left the fray on a stretcher, his head in his hands, following a collision with Luis Suarez, who added insult to injury by scoring the visitors' equaliser with 17 minutes to play.

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The result left the European champions three points behind leaders Manchester United and one point below City, who came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Spurs thanks to an 88th-minute winner from substitute Edin Dzeko.

At Stamford Bridge, Terry glanced home Juan Mata's corner to break the deadlock and claim his 50th goal in Chelsea's colours, but the former England defender did not make it to halftime.

His right knee buckled after Suarez fell on top of him, prompting an anguished cry that was picked up by television microphones and necessitating five minutes of treatment before he was carried off by medics.

Chelsea came close to extending their lead on several occasions, most notably when Mata fired over late in the first half and when Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones blocked Fernando Torres' second-half header.

Suarez had been having a quiet game but in the 73rd minute he popped up to claim the equaliser, nodding in from close range after Jamie Carragher flicked on Suso's corner to record his eighth league goal of the campaign.

It was Liverpool's third consecutive draw and left Brendan Rodgers' side in 13th place.

"It is a good point, but we have to kick on now and start getting some wins," Carragher told Sky Sports.

Dzeko's late strike gave City victory over Spurs at the Etihad Stadium, as Roberto Mancini's side emulated United's 3-2 win at Aston Villa on Saturday by coming from behind to win.

City trailed to Steven Caulker's 21st-minute opener but drew level through Sergio Aguero in the second half before Dzeko struck late on to close the gap on United to two points.

"It was a huge win because it was a difficult moment," said City coach Mancini.

"We had a lot of important players injured and today I saw the same spirit from the players that I saw last year."

In the day's other game, Kevin Nolan returned to haunt former club Newcastle United by scoring the only goal of the game as West Ham United won 1-0 at St James' Park to climb into the top six.